Papers by Raghuram Kandimalla
Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India. PCL (Mw14000), Pluronic-F127 and chloramphenicol (CAM) were p... more Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India. PCL (Mw14000), Pluronic-F127 and chloramphenicol (CAM) were procured from Sigma-Aldrich Chemicals Private Ltd. (Bangalore, India). All other solvents used in this study were of analytical grade and acquired from Sigma-Aldrich, USA, and Merck (Mumbai, India). In all the experiments, Milli-Q water was used.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Candida co-infections in the context of bu... more Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Candida co-infections in the context of burn
wounds, leads to morbidity and mortality. Eradication of such difficult to treat complex infection needs
concomitant effective topical administration of an antibiotic–antifungal cocktail. Application of the
broad-spectrum antibiotic chloramphenicol (CAM) has been hindered owing to its hydrophobicity, poor
dermal penetration, rapid degradation and toxicity issues. But, due to its lesser uses in the past, CAM
continues to be active against a majority of currently predominant resistant bacterial strains. Additionally,
the essential oil of Cymbopogon flexuous possesses strong, broad spectrum antimicrobial property and
also acts as a synergistic enhancer when used in combination with antibiotics. But due to its highly
volatile nature and instability in free form, topical administration has not been possible. Keeping this in
mind, we co-encapsulate CAM with lemongrass essential oil in PCL–Pluronic composite nanocapsules
(CAM–LEO–PCL–P NCs) and were successful in overcoming the limitations in drug administration and
achieved a significant reduction in cytotoxicity than that of the free counterparts with increased
therapeutic index. CAM–LEO–PCL–P NCs exhibited significantly enhanced in vitro antimicrobial activity
against 22 microbial pathogens including ten clinical MRSA isolates and three Candida species. This
therapeutic nanocapsule was able to penetrate into burn wounds and demonstrated pronounced wound
healing ability against MRSA-Candida co-infected burn wounds of mice by significant reduction of the
pathogen burden. It also helps in increased cellular proliferation and collagen synthesis in the wounded
area with the reduction of inflammatory cytokines. We propose CAM–LEO–PCL–P NCs as a potential
candidate to treat chronic wound infections.
Herbal medicine is popularized worldwide due to its ability to cure the diseases with lesser or n... more Herbal medicine is popularized worldwide due to its ability to cure the diseases with lesser or no side effects. North Eastern part of India comes under one of the world biodiversity hotspots which is very rich in traditional herbal medicine. Annona reticulata L. (Annonaceae) is one such plant used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, liver ailments and diabetes by traditional healers. The present study was aimed to scientifically validate this folk knowledge and to develop an herbal remedy through evaluating bioactive guided fractions of A. reticulata (AR) bark against hepatotoxicity and inflammation using in vitro and in vivo models. Results of this study demonstrates that among all fractions of AR bark, methanol extract and its water fraction possess strong anti-oxidant ability and showed protection against CCl 4 induced toxicity in HepG2 cell lines and rats. Both the fractions also exhibit dose dependent anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan induced inflammation in rats. Water fraction showed potent response in the entire tests conducted than methanol extract, which states that polar components of the AR bark methanol extract were responsible for these activities. Further, from the experiments conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action, the results revealed that AR bark showed liver protection and anti-inflammatory response through inhibiting the oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines.
The tribal communities of North Eastern India rely on herbal medicine to cure various disease con... more The tribal communities of North Eastern India rely on herbal medicine to cure various disease conditions. Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (Rhamnaceae) is one of such medicinal plants used for curing liver ailments, insomnia, anemia, diarrhea, diabetic complications, cancer, and loss of appetite. The present study was aimed to describe the protective ability of Z. jujuba root bark (ZJRB) against hepatic injury and chronic inflammation. Bioactivity guided fractionation of Z. jujuba methanol extract (ZJME) was performed using different solvents of increasing polarity viz. hexane (ZJHF), chloroform (ZJCF), ethyl acetate (ZJEAF), water (ZJWF), and residue (ZJMR). In vitro antioxidant results revealed that both ZJME and ZJWF possess strong antioxidant activity among all the fractions and mother extract tested. Further, ZJME and ZJWF showed significant protection against CCl 4 intoxicated HepG2 cell lines by means of increased cell viability and decreased LDH levels compared to control group. ZJME at 200, 400 mg/kg and ZJWF at 50, 100 mg/kg inhibited the lipid peroxidation and significantly restored the liver function markers (AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, SOD, and CAT) and cytokine levels (TNF-α, Il-1β, and Il-10) in CCl 4 induced acute liver damage in rats. All the results were comparable with standard drug silymarin which was further confirmed by histopathology analysis of liver. Similarly, inflammation and increase inflammatory cytokines levels of carrageenan induced paw edema in rats have been refurbished to normal levels on par with the standard drug indomethacin. ZJWF demonstrated potent response than ZJME in all the biological tests conducted. The results of the study signify the ability of ZJRB as good therapeutic agent for liver toxicity and chronic inflammation.
Randia dumetorum Lam. (RD) (Rubiaceae) is traditionally used by some tribes of Assam and Manipur ... more Randia dumetorum Lam. (RD) (Rubiaceae) is traditionally used by some tribes of Assam and Manipur of North East India for the treatment of liver ailments. In this context, to scientifically validate this indigenous traditional knowledge, we have evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of RD leaf and bark. The methanol extracts of RD leaf and bark were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity which exhibited good antioxidant activity in terms of reducing power assay, total antioxidant assay and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were found to be 112 ± 3.24 mg and 138 ± 2.46 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract and 2.6 ± 0.26 mg and 3.34 ± 0.31 mg rutin equivalents/g extract respectively for RD leaf and bark methanol extracts. The in vivo hepato protective activity of the RD leaf and bark extract was evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) induced hepatic damage in male wistar rats. CCl 4 administration induced hepatic damage in rats resulted in increased levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances, albumin, bilirubin, TNF-α, IL-1β and decreased levels of total protein and antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase. RD leaf and bark methanol extracts pre-treatment exhibited protection against CCl 4 induced hepatotoxicity by reversing all the abnormal parameters to significant levels. Histopathological results revealed that RD leaf and bark extracts at 400 mg/kg protects the liver from damage induced by CCl 4. The results of this study scientifically validate the traditional use of RD leaf and bark for the treatment of liver ailments.
Poor wound healing is one of the major complication of diabetic patients which arises due to diff... more Poor wound healing is one of the major complication of diabetic patients which arises due to different factors like hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, vascular insufficiency and microbial infections. Candidiasis of diabetic wounds is a difficult to treat condition and potentially can lead to organ amputation. There are a few number of medications available in market to treat this chronic condition; which demands for alternative treatment options. In traditional system of medicine like Ayurveda, essential oil extracted from leaves of Cymbopogon nardus L. (Poaceae) has been using for the treatment of microbial infections, inflammation and pain. In this regard, we have evaluated anti-Candida and anti-inflammatory activity mediated wound healing property of C. nardus essential oil (EO-CN) on candidiasis of diabetic wounds. EO-CN was obtained through hydro-distillation and subjected to Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis for chemical profiling. Anti-Candida activity of EO-CN was tested against Candida albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis by in vitro zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Anti-candidiasis ability of EO-CN was evaluated on C. albicans infected diabetic wounds of mice through measuring candida load on the 7th, 14th, and 21st day of treatment. Further progression in wound healing was confirmed by measuring the inflammatory marker levels and histopathology of wounded tissues on last day of EO-CN treatment. A total of 95 compounds were identified through GC–MS analysis, with major compounds like citral, 2,6-octadienal-, 3,7-dimethyl-, geranyl acetate, citronellal, geraniol, and citronellol. In vitro test results demonstrated strong anti-Candida activity of EO-CN with a MIC value of 25 µg/ml against C. albicans, 50 µg/ml against C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. EO-CN treatment resulted in significant reduction of candida load on diabetic wounds. Acceleration in wound healing was indicated by declined levels of inflammatory cytokines at wounded area in EO-CN treated animals compared to non-treated group, which was further Frontiers in Pharmacology | www.frontiersin.org 1 June 2016 | Volume 7 | Article 198 Kandimalla et al. Effect of EO-CN on Candidiasis of Diabetic Wounds confirmed by histopathological examination. This study suggests that through significant anti-Candida and anti-inflammatory activity, EO-CN attenuates the growth of the fungus on diabetic wounds and simultaneously reduces the inflammation which leads to acceleration of the wound healing process.
Articular cartilage damage represents one of the most perplexing clinical problems of musculoskel... more Articular cartilage damage represents one of the most perplexing clinical problems of musculoskeletal therapeutics due to its limited self-repair and regenerative capabilities. In this study, 3D porous silk fibroin scaffolds derived from non-mulberry muga silkworm; Antheraea assamensis were fabricated and examined for its ability to support cartilage tissue engineering. Additionally, Bombyx mori and Philosamia ricini silk fibroin scaffolds were utilized for comparative studies. Herein, the fabricated scaffolds were thoroughly characterized and compared for cartilaginous tissue formation within the silk fibroin scaffolds seeded with primary porcine chondrocytes and cultured in vitro for 2 weeks. Surface morphology and structural conformation studies revealed the highly interconnected porous structure (pore size-80-150 µm) with enhanced stability within its structure. The fabricated scaffolds demonstrated improved mechanical properties and were followed-up with sequential experiments to reveal improved thermal and degradation properties. Silk fibroin scaffolds of A. assamensis and P. ricini supported the better chondrocytes attachment and proliferation as indicated by metabolic activities and fluorescence microscopic studies. Biochemical analysis demonstrated significantly higher production of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs) and type II collagen in A. assamensis silk fibroin scaffolds followed by P. ricini and B. mori scaffolds (p<0.001). Furthermore, the histochemistry and immunohistochemical studies indicated enhanced accumulation of sGAGs and expression of collagen II. Moreover, the scaffolds in a subcutaneous model of rat demonstrated in vivo biocompatibility after 8 weeks of implantation. Taken together, these results demonstrate the positive attributes from non-mulberry silk fibroin scaffolds of A. assamensis and suggest its suitability as a promising scaffold for chondrocytes based cartilage repair.
Folklore studies have revealed that Musa balbisiana Colla (MB; Family: Musaceae) has high medicin... more Folklore studies have revealed that Musa balbisiana Colla (MB; Family: Musaceae) has high medicinal properties. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate antihyperglycemic, and antioxidant activity of MB extracts in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. In vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of MB extracts, i.e., root extract (RE), shoot extract and inflorescence extract were determined by using various methods viz 1,-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and a method to assess their possible effect on glucose diffusion across gastrointestinal tract and identify bioactive compound of potent extract. In vivo antilipidemic and antidiabetic activity was evaluated by administrating oral dose of RE for 15 days on STZ-induced diabetic rat. RE showed highest antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH radical (IC50 32.96 µg/ml) and inhibit 30% glucose movement in vitro. The methanol extract of root showed the presence of calyx [4] arene category of the compound. Furthermore, RE treated rat revealed a reduction in fasting blood glucose (62.5%), serum total cholesterol (36.2%), triglyceride (54.5%), and low-density lipoprotein (50.94%) after 15 days as compared to STZ treated animal. There was an initiation of regenerative structures of the affected organs after 15 days of RE treatment. Histopathological observations clearly differentiate the structural changes in pancreas, liver, and kidney of STZ and RE treated group. The presence of calyx [4] arene class of compound may be responsible for its antioxidant and antidiabetic properties by absorbing glucose in vivo.
The quest for developing an ideal suture material prompted our interest to develop a novel suture... more The quest for developing an ideal suture material prompted our interest to develop a novel suture with advantageous characters to market available ones. From natural origin only silk, cotton and linen fibers are presently available in market as non-absorbable suture biomaterials. In this study, we have developed a novel, cost-effective, and biocompatible suture biomaterial from ramie plant, Boehmeria nivea fiber. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) results revealed the physicochemical properties of raw and degummed ramie fiber, where the former one showed desirable characteristics for suture preparation. The braided multifilament ramie suture prepared from degummed fiber exhibited excellent tensile strength. The suture found to be biocompatible towards human erythrocytes and nontoxic to mammalian cells. The fabricated ramie suture exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus; which can be attributed to the inherent bacteriostatic ability of ramie plant fiber. In vivo wound closure efficacy was evaluated in adult male wister rats by suturing the superficial wound incisions. Within seven days of surgery the wound got completely healed leaving no rash and scar. The role of the ramie suture in complete wound healing was supported by the reduced levels of serum inflammatory mediators. Histopathology studies confirmed the wound healing ability of ramie suture, as rapid synthesis of collagen, connective tissue and other skin adnexal structures were observed within seven days of surgery. Tensile properties, biocompatibility and wound closure efficacy of the ramie suture were comparable with market available BMSF suture. The outcome of this study can drive tremendous possibility for the utilization of ramie plant fiber for various biomedical applications
In this study, we have described the biosynthesis of biocompatible gold nanoparticles (GNPs) from... more In this study, we have described the biosynthesis of biocompatible gold nanoparticles (GNPs) from aqueous
extract of the aerial parts of a pteridophyte, “Adiantum philippense” by microwave irradiation and its surface
functionalization with broad spectrum beta lactam antibiotic, amoxicillin (Amox). The functionalization of
amoxicillin on GNPs (GNP-Amox) was carried out via electrostatic interaction of protonated amino group and
thioether moiety mediated attractive forces. The synthesized GNPs and GNP-Amox were physicochemically
characterized. UV–Vis spectroscopy, Zeta potential, XRD, FTIR and SERS (surface enhanced raman spectra)
results confirmed the loading of Amox into GNPs. Loading of Amox to GNPs reduce amoxicillin cytotoxicity,
whereas GNPs were found to be nontoxic to mouse fibroblast cell line (L929) as evident from MTT and acridine
orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) live/dead cell assays. The GNP-Amox conjugates demonstrated enhanced
broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore,
in-vitro and in-vivo assays of GNP-Amox revealed potent anti-MRSA activity and improved the survival rate.
This indicates the subversion of antibiotic resistance mechanism by overcoming the effect of high levels of
β-lactamase produced by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Taken together, this study demonstrates
the positive attributes from GNP-Amox conjugates as a promising antibacterial therapeutic agent against
MRSA as well as other pathogens.
Lowtemperature plasma can effectively tailor the surface properties of natural polymeric biomater... more Lowtemperature plasma can effectively tailor the surface properties of natural polymeric biomaterials according
to the need for various biomedical applications. Non-mulberry silk, Antheraea assama silk fibroin (AASF) is a natural
polymer having excellent biocompatibility and mechanical strength yet unlike mulberry silk, Bombyx mori
silk fibroin, has drawn less interest in biomedical research. In the quest for developing as potential biomaterial,
surface functionalization of plasma induced chitosan (Cs) grafted AASF ((AASF/O2–CS)g/O2) yarn is carried out
using oxygen (O2) plasma. The (AASF/O2–CS)g/O2 yarn exhibits enhanced antithrombogenic property as well
as antimicrobial activity against Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria
as compared to AASF yarn. Moreover, impregnation of antibiotic drug (penicillin G sodium salt, PEN) on
(AASF/O2–CS)g/O2 yarn further improves the observed properties. In-vitro hemolysis assay reveals that O2 plasma
treatment and subsequent impregnation of PEN do not affect the hemocompatibility of AASF yarn. The present
research findings demonstrate that plasma induced grafting of Cs followed by penicillin impregnation could significantly
improve the potential applicability of AASF in the field of surgical research.
Traditional knowledge (TK) based medicines have gained worldwide attention and presently the scie... more Traditional knowledge (TK) based medicines have gained worldwide attention and presently the scientific community is focussing on proper pharmacological validation and identification of lead compounds for the treatment of various diseases. The North East region of India is the home of valuable traditional herbal remedies. Garcinia morella Desr. (Guttiferae) is one such medicinal plant used by traditional healers for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. The present study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer activity of methanol extracts of the leaf, bark and fruit of G. morella (GM) in different in vitro and in vivo experimental conditions. The results of this study showed that GM methanol extracts possessed in vitro antioxidant and anticancer properties, where the fruit extract (GF) showed maximum activity. The anticancer activity was further confirmed by the results of in vivo administration of GF (200 mg/kg) for ten days to Dalton's lymphoma (DLA) induced mice. GF extract significantly increased the mean survival time (MST) of the animals, decreased the tumor volume and restored the hematological and biochemical parameters. The present study for the first time reported the anticancer property of GF on DLA. Further from the experiments conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action of GF on DLA, it can be concluded that GF exerts its anticancer effect through induction of caspases and DNA fragmentation that ultimately leads to apoptosis. However, further experimentation is required to elucidate the active principle and validate these findings in various in vivo settings.
Surgery, 2015
The quest for developing silk fibroin as a biomaterial for drug release systems continues to draw... more The quest for developing silk fibroin as a biomaterial for drug release systems continues to draw research interest owing to its impressive mechanical properties as well as biocompatibility and biodegradability. The aim of this study is to develop low-temperature O2 plasma-treated muga (Antheraea assama) silk fibroin (AASF) yarn impregnated with amoxicillin trihydrate as controlled antibiotic-releasing suture (AASF/O2/AMOX) for preventing postoperative site bacterial infection and fast wound healing. In this experimental study, AASF and AASF/O2/AMOX sutures are used to close the surgical wounds of adult male Wistar rats of 4 months old and weighing 200-230 g. Surface hydrophilicity induced by O2 plasma results in an increase in drug-impregnation efficiency of AASF/O2 yarn by 16.7%. In vitro drug release profiles show continuous and prolonged release of AMOX from AASF/O2/AMOX yarn up to 336 hours. In vitro hemolysis assay reveals that O2 plasma treatment and subsequent impregnation of AMOX do not affect the heertetmocompatibility of AASF yarn. The AASF/O2/AMOX yarn proves to be effective for in vitro growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, whereas AASF offers no antibacterial activity against both types of bacteria. In vivo histopathology studies and colony-forming unit count data revealed accelerated wound healing activity of AASF/O2/AMOX over AASF yarn through rapid synthesis and proliferation of collagen, hair follicle, and connective tissues. Outcomes of this work clearly demonstrate the potential use of AASF/O2/AMOX yarn as a controlled antibiotic-releasing suture biomaterial for superficial surgical applications.
The present invention provides a suture biomaterial for clinical application comprising of fine f... more The present invention provides a suture biomaterial for clinical application comprising of fine fibre derived from B.nivea (Ramie) fiber, which is extracted from suitably degummed B.nivea (Ramie) fiber, said suture biomaterial having smooth, uniform, plain texture and other traits as described herein for being suitable to be applied clinically. The present invention also provides a method for preparing such suture biomaterial
A method for extraction of cymbopogon nardus essential oil extract for healing of fungal infected... more A method for extraction of cymbopogon nardus essential oil extract for healing of fungal infected diabetic wounds comprising hydrodistilling the desired mass of grass of cymbopogon nardus, in a suitable apparatus using 4 to 5 litres of de-ionized water for about 3 hours and obtaining the essential oil extract. The invention also relates to cymbopogon nardus essential oil extract obtained by the method
The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has increased preci... more The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has increased precipitously over the past several decades, with far-reaching health care and societal costs. MRSA infections in the context of burn wounds lead to invasive disease that could potentially cause mortality. Chloramphenicol is a well-known broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic that has been used since 1949, but due to its hydrophobicity, poor penetration in skin, fast degradation, and toxicity, its application has been hindered. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that old antibiotics such as chloramphenicol remained active against a large number of currently prevalent resistant bacterial isolates due to their low-level use in the past. Recently, the novel nanoparticulate drug-delivery system has been used and reported to be exceptionally useful for topical therapeutics, due to its distinctive physical characteristics such as a high surface-to-volume ratio and minuscule size. It helps to achieve better hydrophilicity, bioavailability, and controlled delivery with enhanced therapeutic index, which has resulted in decreased toxicity levels compared to the crude drug. Here, we report a novel chloramphenicol loaded with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-pluronic composite nanoparticles (CAM-PCL-P NPs), physicochemical characterizations, and its bioactivity evaluation in a MRSA-infected burn-wound animal model. CAM-PCL-P NPs could encapsulate 98.3% of the drug in the nanoparticles and release 81% of the encapsulated drug over 36 days with a time to 50% drug release of
72 hours (51%). Nanoparticle suspensions maintained the initial properties with respect to size and encapsulation efficiency, even after 6 months of storage at 4°C and 25°C, respectively (P0.05). Significant reduction in the level of toxicity was observed for CAM-PCL-P NPs compared with that of free drug as confirmed from hemolytic activity against human blood erythrocytes and cytotoxicity assay against an MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. In vitro antibacterial activities were performed by zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentrations, minimum bacterial concentration, and time-kill assays, which showed that CAM-PCL-P NPs exhibited significantly enhanced anti-MRSA activity against ten clinical isolates of MRSA strains. The augmented activity of CAM-PCL-P NPs was further tested on a MRSA-infected burn-wound animal model and achieved quicker efficacy in MRSA clearance and improved the survival rate compared with free-chloramphenicol treatment. Thus, we propose CAM-PCL-P NPs as a promising novel antimicrobial candidate that may have a good potential for preclinical applications.
Keywords: chloramphenicol, PCL-pluronic, nanoparticle, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, anti-MRSA activity, burn-wound animal model
The present invention relates to the use of radiofrequency oxygen plasma treatment for surface mo... more The present invention relates to the use of radiofrequency oxygen plasma treatment for surface modification of muga (Antheraea
assama) silk fibroin (AASF) followed by antibiotic drug loading and subsequent development as antibiotic-loaded suture biomaterial.
This invention provides an efficient, dry and environmentally-friendly method of modifying surface properties of AASF for
developing it as antibiotic-loaded suture biomaterial. The method i.e. radiofrequency oxygen plasma treatment described in this
invention involves low consumption of energy, chemical and time as compared to wet chemical/radiation treatment and more
importantly can effectively modify the surface properties of polymeric materials without influencing their bulk properties which is
difficult to achieve through wet chemical/radiation treatment processes. This invention provides an effective solution on eliminating
post surgical bacterial infection of wound and significant improvement in rapid wound healing activity though development of
antibiotic-loaded AASF suture by radiofrequency oxygen plasma treatment.
The North Eastern India of the country is very rich in medicinal plants resources. The natural en... more The North Eastern India of the country is very rich in medicinal plants resources. The natural environment favours to grow ample species of valuable plants. On the other hand folk practices of this region are also highly countable and the flora of this area is among the richest of the country. Majority of valuable medicinal plants are gradually facing danger for its survival and many of which have already been destroyed even without having the scientific uses. World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the people in developing countries of the world rely on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. About 3.5 to 4 billion people in the world rely on plants as sources of drugs. In countries like India medicinal plants has specific role in the rural health care. The common diseases are often treated by effective herbal remedies. The authors have collected the knowledge of such uncommon folk practises from different parts of Assam and the work is being continued further by Authors. This article mainly highlighted such 32 Folk Practices of some herbal Medicines used in rural health care system for the common diseases particularly by the rural peoples of Assam along with their local name, botanical name, disease conditions, part used and method of use. These medicinal use of the herbs when compared with Ayurvedic text it is seen that some herbs are described for similar use or properties and on the other hand some herbs are found to use in traditional medicine in other parts of India and abroad. It is also seen that some herbs are used as preventive measure for diseases and taken as food substances by these rural peoples.
The Solanum genus (Solanaceae family) comprised of one thousand five hundred species and most of ... more The Solanum genus (Solanaceae family) comprised of one thousand five hundred species and most of the members of the genus are widely used as food and traditional medicine. Diabetes mellitus is a common and serious metabolic disorder throughout the world. Traditionally used medicinal plants play an important role as alternative medicine due to less toxic effects and cost. The aim of this review is to report anti-diabetic potential of plants of Solanum genus on the basis of the secondary data published. This will help in identifying the state of anti-diabetic knowledge in regards to this genus and to propose future research priorities. The major scientific database including Science direct, SciFinder and Google scholar were searched for information on Solanum genus using various keyword combinations. A total of eight Solanum species were reported in literature to have anti-diabetic property. Some of the plant species reported to modify different complications of diabetes like hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress in diseased animals. On the basis of anti-diabetic and other related activities, plants of Solanum genus are the most promising plant species to develop as efficacious and safer medicines for diabetes and its complications. Considering the present status of this disease and potential of Solanum genus, there is much scope of studying this genus thoroughly, which may result in development of affordable, efficacious and safer remedies against the silent killer disease.
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Papers by Raghuram Kandimalla
wounds, leads to morbidity and mortality. Eradication of such difficult to treat complex infection needs
concomitant effective topical administration of an antibiotic–antifungal cocktail. Application of the
broad-spectrum antibiotic chloramphenicol (CAM) has been hindered owing to its hydrophobicity, poor
dermal penetration, rapid degradation and toxicity issues. But, due to its lesser uses in the past, CAM
continues to be active against a majority of currently predominant resistant bacterial strains. Additionally,
the essential oil of Cymbopogon flexuous possesses strong, broad spectrum antimicrobial property and
also acts as a synergistic enhancer when used in combination with antibiotics. But due to its highly
volatile nature and instability in free form, topical administration has not been possible. Keeping this in
mind, we co-encapsulate CAM with lemongrass essential oil in PCL–Pluronic composite nanocapsules
(CAM–LEO–PCL–P NCs) and were successful in overcoming the limitations in drug administration and
achieved a significant reduction in cytotoxicity than that of the free counterparts with increased
therapeutic index. CAM–LEO–PCL–P NCs exhibited significantly enhanced in vitro antimicrobial activity
against 22 microbial pathogens including ten clinical MRSA isolates and three Candida species. This
therapeutic nanocapsule was able to penetrate into burn wounds and demonstrated pronounced wound
healing ability against MRSA-Candida co-infected burn wounds of mice by significant reduction of the
pathogen burden. It also helps in increased cellular proliferation and collagen synthesis in the wounded
area with the reduction of inflammatory cytokines. We propose CAM–LEO–PCL–P NCs as a potential
candidate to treat chronic wound infections.
extract of the aerial parts of a pteridophyte, “Adiantum philippense” by microwave irradiation and its surface
functionalization with broad spectrum beta lactam antibiotic, amoxicillin (Amox). The functionalization of
amoxicillin on GNPs (GNP-Amox) was carried out via electrostatic interaction of protonated amino group and
thioether moiety mediated attractive forces. The synthesized GNPs and GNP-Amox were physicochemically
characterized. UV–Vis spectroscopy, Zeta potential, XRD, FTIR and SERS (surface enhanced raman spectra)
results confirmed the loading of Amox into GNPs. Loading of Amox to GNPs reduce amoxicillin cytotoxicity,
whereas GNPs were found to be nontoxic to mouse fibroblast cell line (L929) as evident from MTT and acridine
orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) live/dead cell assays. The GNP-Amox conjugates demonstrated enhanced
broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore,
in-vitro and in-vivo assays of GNP-Amox revealed potent anti-MRSA activity and improved the survival rate.
This indicates the subversion of antibiotic resistance mechanism by overcoming the effect of high levels of
β-lactamase produced by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Taken together, this study demonstrates
the positive attributes from GNP-Amox conjugates as a promising antibacterial therapeutic agent against
MRSA as well as other pathogens.
to the need for various biomedical applications. Non-mulberry silk, Antheraea assama silk fibroin (AASF) is a natural
polymer having excellent biocompatibility and mechanical strength yet unlike mulberry silk, Bombyx mori
silk fibroin, has drawn less interest in biomedical research. In the quest for developing as potential biomaterial,
surface functionalization of plasma induced chitosan (Cs) grafted AASF ((AASF/O2–CS)g/O2) yarn is carried out
using oxygen (O2) plasma. The (AASF/O2–CS)g/O2 yarn exhibits enhanced antithrombogenic property as well
as antimicrobial activity against Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria
as compared to AASF yarn. Moreover, impregnation of antibiotic drug (penicillin G sodium salt, PEN) on
(AASF/O2–CS)g/O2 yarn further improves the observed properties. In-vitro hemolysis assay reveals that O2 plasma
treatment and subsequent impregnation of PEN do not affect the hemocompatibility of AASF yarn. The present
research findings demonstrate that plasma induced grafting of Cs followed by penicillin impregnation could significantly
improve the potential applicability of AASF in the field of surgical research.
72 hours (51%). Nanoparticle suspensions maintained the initial properties with respect to size and encapsulation efficiency, even after 6 months of storage at 4°C and 25°C, respectively (P0.05). Significant reduction in the level of toxicity was observed for CAM-PCL-P NPs compared with that of free drug as confirmed from hemolytic activity against human blood erythrocytes and cytotoxicity assay against an MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. In vitro antibacterial activities were performed by zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentrations, minimum bacterial concentration, and time-kill assays, which showed that CAM-PCL-P NPs exhibited significantly enhanced anti-MRSA activity against ten clinical isolates of MRSA strains. The augmented activity of CAM-PCL-P NPs was further tested on a MRSA-infected burn-wound animal model and achieved quicker efficacy in MRSA clearance and improved the survival rate compared with free-chloramphenicol treatment. Thus, we propose CAM-PCL-P NPs as a promising novel antimicrobial candidate that may have a good potential for preclinical applications.
Keywords: chloramphenicol, PCL-pluronic, nanoparticle, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, anti-MRSA activity, burn-wound animal model
assama) silk fibroin (AASF) followed by antibiotic drug loading and subsequent development as antibiotic-loaded suture biomaterial.
This invention provides an efficient, dry and environmentally-friendly method of modifying surface properties of AASF for
developing it as antibiotic-loaded suture biomaterial. The method i.e. radiofrequency oxygen plasma treatment described in this
invention involves low consumption of energy, chemical and time as compared to wet chemical/radiation treatment and more
importantly can effectively modify the surface properties of polymeric materials without influencing their bulk properties which is
difficult to achieve through wet chemical/radiation treatment processes. This invention provides an effective solution on eliminating
post surgical bacterial infection of wound and significant improvement in rapid wound healing activity though development of
antibiotic-loaded AASF suture by radiofrequency oxygen plasma treatment.
wounds, leads to morbidity and mortality. Eradication of such difficult to treat complex infection needs
concomitant effective topical administration of an antibiotic–antifungal cocktail. Application of the
broad-spectrum antibiotic chloramphenicol (CAM) has been hindered owing to its hydrophobicity, poor
dermal penetration, rapid degradation and toxicity issues. But, due to its lesser uses in the past, CAM
continues to be active against a majority of currently predominant resistant bacterial strains. Additionally,
the essential oil of Cymbopogon flexuous possesses strong, broad spectrum antimicrobial property and
also acts as a synergistic enhancer when used in combination with antibiotics. But due to its highly
volatile nature and instability in free form, topical administration has not been possible. Keeping this in
mind, we co-encapsulate CAM with lemongrass essential oil in PCL–Pluronic composite nanocapsules
(CAM–LEO–PCL–P NCs) and were successful in overcoming the limitations in drug administration and
achieved a significant reduction in cytotoxicity than that of the free counterparts with increased
therapeutic index. CAM–LEO–PCL–P NCs exhibited significantly enhanced in vitro antimicrobial activity
against 22 microbial pathogens including ten clinical MRSA isolates and three Candida species. This
therapeutic nanocapsule was able to penetrate into burn wounds and demonstrated pronounced wound
healing ability against MRSA-Candida co-infected burn wounds of mice by significant reduction of the
pathogen burden. It also helps in increased cellular proliferation and collagen synthesis in the wounded
area with the reduction of inflammatory cytokines. We propose CAM–LEO–PCL–P NCs as a potential
candidate to treat chronic wound infections.
extract of the aerial parts of a pteridophyte, “Adiantum philippense” by microwave irradiation and its surface
functionalization with broad spectrum beta lactam antibiotic, amoxicillin (Amox). The functionalization of
amoxicillin on GNPs (GNP-Amox) was carried out via electrostatic interaction of protonated amino group and
thioether moiety mediated attractive forces. The synthesized GNPs and GNP-Amox were physicochemically
characterized. UV–Vis spectroscopy, Zeta potential, XRD, FTIR and SERS (surface enhanced raman spectra)
results confirmed the loading of Amox into GNPs. Loading of Amox to GNPs reduce amoxicillin cytotoxicity,
whereas GNPs were found to be nontoxic to mouse fibroblast cell line (L929) as evident from MTT and acridine
orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) live/dead cell assays. The GNP-Amox conjugates demonstrated enhanced
broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore,
in-vitro and in-vivo assays of GNP-Amox revealed potent anti-MRSA activity and improved the survival rate.
This indicates the subversion of antibiotic resistance mechanism by overcoming the effect of high levels of
β-lactamase produced by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Taken together, this study demonstrates
the positive attributes from GNP-Amox conjugates as a promising antibacterial therapeutic agent against
MRSA as well as other pathogens.
to the need for various biomedical applications. Non-mulberry silk, Antheraea assama silk fibroin (AASF) is a natural
polymer having excellent biocompatibility and mechanical strength yet unlike mulberry silk, Bombyx mori
silk fibroin, has drawn less interest in biomedical research. In the quest for developing as potential biomaterial,
surface functionalization of plasma induced chitosan (Cs) grafted AASF ((AASF/O2–CS)g/O2) yarn is carried out
using oxygen (O2) plasma. The (AASF/O2–CS)g/O2 yarn exhibits enhanced antithrombogenic property as well
as antimicrobial activity against Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria
as compared to AASF yarn. Moreover, impregnation of antibiotic drug (penicillin G sodium salt, PEN) on
(AASF/O2–CS)g/O2 yarn further improves the observed properties. In-vitro hemolysis assay reveals that O2 plasma
treatment and subsequent impregnation of PEN do not affect the hemocompatibility of AASF yarn. The present
research findings demonstrate that plasma induced grafting of Cs followed by penicillin impregnation could significantly
improve the potential applicability of AASF in the field of surgical research.
72 hours (51%). Nanoparticle suspensions maintained the initial properties with respect to size and encapsulation efficiency, even after 6 months of storage at 4°C and 25°C, respectively (P0.05). Significant reduction in the level of toxicity was observed for CAM-PCL-P NPs compared with that of free drug as confirmed from hemolytic activity against human blood erythrocytes and cytotoxicity assay against an MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. In vitro antibacterial activities were performed by zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentrations, minimum bacterial concentration, and time-kill assays, which showed that CAM-PCL-P NPs exhibited significantly enhanced anti-MRSA activity against ten clinical isolates of MRSA strains. The augmented activity of CAM-PCL-P NPs was further tested on a MRSA-infected burn-wound animal model and achieved quicker efficacy in MRSA clearance and improved the survival rate compared with free-chloramphenicol treatment. Thus, we propose CAM-PCL-P NPs as a promising novel antimicrobial candidate that may have a good potential for preclinical applications.
Keywords: chloramphenicol, PCL-pluronic, nanoparticle, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, anti-MRSA activity, burn-wound animal model
assama) silk fibroin (AASF) followed by antibiotic drug loading and subsequent development as antibiotic-loaded suture biomaterial.
This invention provides an efficient, dry and environmentally-friendly method of modifying surface properties of AASF for
developing it as antibiotic-loaded suture biomaterial. The method i.e. radiofrequency oxygen plasma treatment described in this
invention involves low consumption of energy, chemical and time as compared to wet chemical/radiation treatment and more
importantly can effectively modify the surface properties of polymeric materials without influencing their bulk properties which is
difficult to achieve through wet chemical/radiation treatment processes. This invention provides an effective solution on eliminating
post surgical bacterial infection of wound and significant improvement in rapid wound healing activity though development of
antibiotic-loaded AASF suture by radiofrequency oxygen plasma treatment.